Splitter head with spreader arms

ABSTRACT

A splitter head adapted for use with a press-type splitter has a wedge with an edge adapted for splitting wood and an integral post projecting from the wedge away from the edge. A pair of Ushaped arms have their leg ends pivotally secured to the post by a pivot pin extending through the post and parallel to the wedge edge, the legs of each arm straddling the post. The legs extend toward the wedge to transverse arm portions on opposite sides of the post. The transverse portions normally contact the wedge end opposite the wedge edge adjacent the wedge faces so that, when the edge is pressed into the wood to start a split, the arms&#39;&#39; transverse portions engage the wood on either side of the split to spread the wood away from the split on each side.

Uited States Patent 91 SPLITTER HEAD WlTl-ll SPREADER ARMS [76] Inventor: Charles M. Root, 104 Emerson P1.,

Watertown, NY. 13601 [22] Filed: May 15, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 470,058

521 U.S.C1. 144/193 A, 254/104 51 int. C1 A47j 49 02, B271 7/00 [58] Field orsar'h; 144/1912 N; 254/104 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1374 Nesbitt 144/193 D X 7/1973 Van Gompel 254/104 [57] ABSTRACT A splitter head adapted for use with a press-type splitter has a wedge with an edge adapted for splitting wood and an integral post projecting from the wedge away from the edge. A pair of U-shaped arms have their leg ends pivotally secured to the post by a pivot pin extending through the post and parallel to the wedge edge, the legs of each arm straddling the post. The legs extend toward the wedge to transverse arm portions on opposite sides of the post. The transverse portions normally contact the wedge end opposite the wedge edge adjacent the wedge faces so that, when the edge is pressed into the wood to start a split, the arms transverse portions engage the wood on either side of the split to spread the wood away from the split on each side.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures SPLITTER HEAD WITH SPREADER ARMS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a head for a press-type wood splitter, the head having a wood splitting wedge and an integral post projecting away from the wedge edge, the post having arms pivotally secured thereto and projecting toward the wedge for engaging the wood on either side of a split started by the wedge for rapidly pushing the wood apart on either side of the split.

Wood splitters heretofore known having means for spreading the wood apart after the wedge has been driven into the wood have comprised two part wedges or wedges with hinged halves, another wedge being provided for thereafter spreading the halves apart. Such wedges have unconnected parts and require successive operations and the parts are difficult to place in position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention contemplates providing a splitting wedge for wooden blocks or logs with an integral post projecting from the wedge away from the edge of the wedge. For spreading the wood when the wedge has been driven into the wood to start a split, spreader arms are provided on each side of the post which are pivotally secured to the post to swing about an axis which is parallel to the wedge edge. The pivot axis is spaced from the wedge and the arms are normally biased so that their free ends contact the wedge at its end opposite its edge, the free ends normally contacting the wedge along the faces of the wedge which intersect to form the wedge.

Each spreader arm is U-shaped and has an angle iron cross-piece welded at each end to legs having annular end portions adapted to embrace a pivot pin secured through the post. The legs of each arm straddle the post and the transverse portions of the two arms are biased to contact the wedge, one on either side of the post and along the end of the wedge opposite the splitting edge. The arm crosspieces are arranged to have a flange projecting away from the pivot pin and adapted to normally extend along the wedge end adjacent the wedge faces which intersect to form the splitting edge.

The spreader arms prevent the wedge from becoming stuck in the split wood and separate the wood on either side of the split at a rate faster than the wedge alone would separate the wood. When the spreader arms have separated the wood on either side of the split, the arms separate and extend on either side away from the post, the post being long enough to leave the spreader arms free to then approach each other again leaving the wedge free to continue between the now split apart and separated parts of the wood.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a splitter head according to the invention in place on a piece of wood prior to splitting the wood;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatical enlarged, side elevational view thereof during the start of the splitting operation;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the splitter head of FIG. 2 rotated 90 from the view of FIG. 2 and shown partly in section on the line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 during the splitting operation but prior to the completion of the operation; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. .2 after completion of the splitting operation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE [PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, a wood splitting machine 10 of the press type is fragmentarily shown as comprising framework including side members 11 connecting an upper cross member 12. with an anvil member 13 at the bottom. A log 14 or other piece of wood is adapted to rest on the anvil 13 to be split by the head 15 of the present invention.

A press, which it will be understood comprises an hydraulic cylinder, not shown, secured to the cross member 12, has a piston rod 16 extending through an appropriate hole in the member 12. The lower end of rod 16, hereinafter called a post, extends into a hole in the blunt end of a metal wedge 17 and is preferably secured thereto by welding. Although the piston rod is shown as integral with the post portion of head 15, it will be understood that rod and post may be separate parts secured together.

Referring to FIGS. 2-5, head 1.5 comprises the post 16, wedge 17, a pivot pin 18, and two U-shaped spreader arms 19 pivotally secured to the post 16 by the pin 18.

Post 16 is shown as round but it will be apparent that it may equally well be rectangular or square in cross section. Wedge 17 has a splitting edge 20 at one end opposite the blunt end 21 from which post 16 projects and the opposite faces 22 intersect at the edge 20. As shown in FIG. 3 the faces 22 terminate at the sides 23.

The spreader arms 19 each have two leg portions 24, one on each side of post 16, and each arm has a transverse portion or base portion 25 shown as an angle member welded at each end to a respective leg portion 24. The other end of each leg portion is pivotally secured on the pin 18 which passes through an appropriate hole in post 16. The pin 18 may be secured to post 16 as by a drive fit but other means may be used to secure the arms 19 on pin 18 and the pin in its hole through post 16.

It will be noted that the arms 19 each straddle the post 16 and are disposed so that each angle member transverse portion 25 normally has one flange disposed against the blunt end 21 of the wedge along the end of a respective face portion 22 of the wedge and has its other flange projecting away from post 16. As shown, the arms 19 are biased downward by gravity.

In operation, the head 15 is driven downward in the direction of the grain of the wood as shown by arrow 26 (FIG. 2) by operation of the hydraulic cylinder, or otherwise, from the position shown in FIG. I to the position shown in FIG. 2 until the outwardly projecting flange of each portion 25 comes into contact with the wood on either side of the split 27.

As the head 15 continues downward, as shown in FIG. 4, arms 19 are forced togglewise apart until the arms 19 project horizontally in opposite directions from post 16. It will be apparent that the toggle action of spreader arms 19 will cause the wood to split faster than would be the case when a wedge without spreader arms is used. As shown in FIG. 5., the continued downward progress of head is unimpeded by arms 19 when they swing upward away from wedge 17.

It will be apparent that, while the head 15 has been described as being driven downward, the splitting action of wedge 17 and spreader arms 19 would be the same if head 15 were fixed and anvil member 13 were driven upward.

I claim:

1. A splitter head for rapidly splitting a piece of wood, comprising: a metal wedge having opposite faces terminating in a splitting edge at one end and a blunt wedge end at the other end, a post secured to the wedge projecting from the blunt end away from the splitting edge, and two spreader arms each having one end pivotally secured to the post at a point spaced from the blunt end, the arms being biased to project toward the wedge blunt end on opposite sides of the post and having their other ends adapted to swing away from the post in a direction outward from the wedge opposite faces, each arm other end normally having a portion extending away from the adjacent wedge opposite face for engaging a portion of the wood being split on either side of a split made by the wedge edge for spreading togglewise and speeding the splitting of the wood as the wedge is driven into the wood.

2. A splitter head adapted for use with a press-type wood splitter, comprising: a metal wedge having opposite faces terminating in a splitting edge at one end and a blunt wedge-end at the other end, a post secured to the wedge projecting from the blunt end away from the splitting edge, and two Ushaped spreader arms each having a transverse portion and two leg portions projecting from the ends of the transverse portion, and a pivot pin passing through the post spaced from the wedge blunt end and parallel to the wedge edge, the leg portions of each spreader arm straddling the post and having their leg ends pivotally secured to respective pivot pin ends projecting from the post, the spreader arms transverse portions being biased toward the blunt wedge end and normally extending along the blunt end adjacent respective wedge faces and each having a portion projecting from the wedge beyond its respective face for engaging wood being split by the wedge on either side of the split and speeding the splitting of the wood.

3. The splitter head defined in claim 2 wherein the transverse portion of each spreader arm is an angle iron having one flange normally biased into contact with the wedge blunt end along a respective opposite face end and having its other flange projecting away from the post and beyond the respective face. 

1. A splitter head for rapidly splitting a piece of wood, comprising: a metal wedge having opposite faces terminating in a splitting edge at one end and a blunt wedge end at the other end, a post secured to the wedgE projecting from the blunt end away from the splitting edge, and two spreader arms each having one end pivotally secured to the post at a point spaced from the blunt end, the arms being biased to project toward the wedge blunt end on opposite sides of the post and having their other ends adapted to swing away from the post in a direction outward from the wedge opposite faces, each arm other end normally having a portion extending away from the adjacent wedge opposite face for engaging a portion of the wood being split on either side of a split made by the wedge edge for spreading togglewise and speeding the splitting of the wood as the wedge is driven into the wood.
 2. A splitter head adapted for use with a press-type wood splitter, comprising: a metal wedge having opposite faces terminating in a splitting edge at one end and a blunt wedge-end at the other end, a post secured to the wedge projecting from the blunt end away from the splitting edge, and two U-shaped spreader arms each having a transverse portion and two leg portions projecting from the ends of the transverse portion, and a pivot pin passing through the post spaced from the wedge blunt end and parallel to the wedge edge, the leg portions of each spreader arm straddling the post and having their leg ends pivotally secured to respective pivot pin ends projecting from the post, the spreader arms transverse portions being biased toward the blunt wedge end and normally extending along the blunt end adjacent respective wedge faces and each having a portion projecting from the wedge beyond its respective face for engaging wood being split by the wedge on either side of the split and speeding the splitting of the wood.
 3. The splitter head defined in claim 2 wherein the transverse portion of each spreader arm is an angle iron having one flange normally biased into contact with the wedge blunt end along a respective opposite face end and having its other flange projecting away from the post and beyond the respective face. 